Starting with watering the World Tree for otherworldly survival

Page 320

"So... how do we find a suitable entry point next? Should we start with the Felynes?"

Since the Grimmsnarls were able to be driven out unscathed by the Kulve Taroth, it means they must have gained control of the entrance to the Golden Country.

The Faerie creatures are a common sight in the hunter's world, and they have always preferred to make their home in caves.

These short, bipedal cat-people are all dressed in straw raincoats, wigs, and rather exaggerated masks.

Their behavior patterns are similar to those of barbarian tribes, but as long as hunters can communicate with them normally, they can still establish a friendly cooperative relationship with the Felynes.

Sometimes, they will even give their tools and skills to hunters or other allies to prove their friendliness.

—Of course, Nergigante is definitely not included in this category. Qin He had previously seen cases where Nergigante drove the Grimmsnarl out of their original habitats and seized their lairs.

Even more coincidentally, the Gashia and Gana sisters, who are known as the Extinction Dragon sisters, actually seized the ancestral homeland of this Felyne tribe and used it as their lair.

If we take the two of them in to negotiate, those little wildcats from the Strange-Faced Tribe will probably be so frightened that they'll attack immediately.

According to Gashia, these strange-faced people suffered heavy losses when they first encountered the gray dwarves in the Golden Land.

The weapons of the Grimaldi are crude weapons made of various ores. The Grimaldi who live around the Golden Lands also mix imperial gold into their weapons.

In addition, they also use specially formulated poisonous, paralyzing, and sleep-inducing throwing knives, as well as small bombs known as pot bombs.

While these venoms, combined with weapons, could certainly incapacitate large monsters, they were no match for the various weapons and armor crafted by the gray dwarves, as well as the chain-reaction crossbows they had acquired.

Furthermore, the Grey Dwarves possess battle golems crafted using a combination of goblin technology and dwarven craftsmanship. It's not surprising that the Felynes suffered setbacks on the main battlefield.

The first clash between the Giant Faced and the Grey Dwarves ended in a complete defeat and the massacre of the Giant Faced's people.

Since the Giant-faced people living around the Golden Land have a habit of wearing Imperial Gold, the Grey Dwarves naturally hunt and capture them to obtain gold ornaments.

Having been treated this way, the Giant-Faced Clan, with their vengeful nature, would not let the opportunity for revenge pass them by. They planned to capture all the Grey Dwarf's mining slaves alive through a sneak attack.

However, the kobolds led by these grey dwarves were no ordinary beings. They were warlocks blessed with dragon blood, transformed into dragon-blooded kobolds.

These terrifying miners were all skilled in spellcasting. The strange-faced people, who lived in the Golden Land, had no experience fighting spellcasters and naturally suffered a great loss once again.

Finally, the Grey Dwarves assembled large mining carts in the Golden Country, which angered the Kulve Taroth.

Although the Grey Dwarves were all burned to death in the end, the Felynes were driven out by the Kulve Taroth.

To go and inquire about the Golden City at this point would be tantamount to becoming the target of the Strange-Faced Clan's wrath.

"Hmph~ That's how it is, my Azure Star~ What are you going to do? If you kill a few of those annoying little cats... maybe you can force them to reveal the entrance to the Golden City."

Gashia could tell from his eyes that Qin He wasn't the type to kill indiscriminately. But these wildcats of the Feathered Tribe wouldn't listen to his pleas.

Could it be that Qin He could force the two of them to return the ancestral land of the Qimian tribe to them?

Hmm... wait!

It seems there really is a way; Qin He has now inherited the destiny of Azure Star.

If he could get the two Nergigantes to cooperate in putting on a show, portraying himself as a "heroic hunter who defeated Nergigante," he might actually win the Grimmsnarl's complete admiration.

Ultimately, the Strange-Faced Clan are just ordinary kittens with average intelligence. With Qin He's personal charm, it wouldn't be difficult for him to fool them.

"Let's head to the territory of the Faceless Tribe now, and I'll make some preparations..."

What Gashia could think of, Qin He certainly could too. But he had other plans.

After sending the old hunter responsible for passing on the destiny of Azure Star to a safe place, Qin He, Zhong Liuxiu, Xue Zhi, and the two sisters of the Extinction Dragon set off together for the cave area where the Qimian tribe now lived.

Paying close attention to his surroundings, Qin He actively peered around, searching for any members of the Strange Face Clan.

In the distance, those wild-looking tents and altars, covered in the graffiti of the Feta people, mark one of their settlements.

"Very good, now please return to your original forms and come with me."

With Gashia's power, she could practically do whatever she wanted in the territory of the Grimaldians. Originally, they lived in areas with dense dragon crystals and abundant energy, but she drove them out.

If Qin He were to resort to force, these little wildcats wouldn't be able to stop him at all. Judging from Qin He's ability to control poison, the mere poisons of the Qimian tribe would be completely useless against him.

"Mr. Qin~ Qin Lan and I are going hunting today. It's a fourth-tier Whirlpool Horned Python, a water-type magical beast... Once we succeed, we can receive the quest you gave us earlier."

A message from Zhuang Daihua popped up on the magic communication terminal. She was still ashamed to see Qin He's private life and only communicated with him via messages.

—A normal shyness is necessary. Zhuang Daihua's charm as a woman is highlighted precisely because of this reserve.

Qin Lan is now a mid-tier third-level Iron Dragon in her youth stage, so controlling the Whirlpool Horned Python that once ambushed her is practically a piece of cake.

If the cost were disregarded, the horned python would be torn to pieces before it could strangle Qin Lan to death.

"It's right down there!"

Qin Lan was extremely familiar with the aura of that giant python. When she was a young dragon, she was almost dragged into the water and strangled by the Whirlpool Horned Python.

Now, the time for revenge has finally come.

After transforming into a purple dragon, Zhuang Daihua also gained eyesight far exceeding that of ordinary people. She immediately saw a giant snake shadow, about twelve meters long, surging at the bottom of the river.

Even now, Qin Lan and Zhuang Daihua's purple dragon forms are already over ten meters long, making them the most powerful young dragons. But facing this giant python, Zhuang Daihua still couldn't help but feel a chill run down her spine.

Ultimately, she was still just an ordinary human girl at heart.

"Step back, and I'll blow it out."

As an iron dragon, Qin Lan's abilities are arguably the most suitable for survival in the wild.

Putting aside the hypnotic breath, the dual-attribute electric spark breath alone can be used to directly electrocute fish in rivers and lakes.

A ball of intense heat, crackling with electricity, condensed in Qin Lan's mouth, causing the surrounding temperature to rise.

The breath exploded on the river surface with a loud bang, and the flames continued to burn on the river surface for a while due to the effect of the breath liquid.

The electric energy surging from the electric sparks flowed directly into the river, causing many river fish to float to the surface on the spot.

If there were a bronze dragon here, it would definitely come over and criticize Qin Lan for electrofishing.

"hiss--!"

Stimulated by the electricity, the vortex horned python's massive body immediately convulsed and writhed. But outside the river, two young dragons were watching intently.

If it gets out of the water, it will be torn to pieces immediately.

Zhuang Daihua used a demiplane ring to collect fish that were stunned or killed by electric current.

"Foolish and lowly snake! You dared to ambush a young iron dragon. Now, your retribution has come! After I kill you, I will tear you into even pieces... and roast you over the fire!"

Having almost been strangled to death by this horned python, Qin Lan, now a dragon, has returned to seek revenge.

This python stumbled upon a perfect opportunity: neither the Purple Dragon nor the Iron Dragon are dragons skilled in aquatic combat. By hiding underwater, its chances of survival were indeed much higher.

After her plan to force out the horned python with her breath failed, Qin Lan immediately leaped into the river.

It's not good at water combat, but that's only relative to aquatic dragons like the Bronze Dragon. If this Whirlpool Horned Serpent really thinks the Iron Dragon can't kill it underwater, then it's incredibly stupid.

Zhuang Daihua was half a step slower, and then she also leaped into the river. She poured the energy of her blade's breath into her right claw, forming an energy blade.

This energy blade can inflict damage in melee combat, cleaving the vortex horned python into pieces.

The long horn on the top of this swirling horned python's head is a vital organ for connecting to the magic core and casting spells. Besides releasing offensive magic, the horn itself is also incredibly sharp.

Surrounded by Qin Lan and Zhuang Daihua, the Whirlpool Horned Python quickly lost its chance to escape. The beast then decided to fight to the death, attempting to open a path to survival by attacking either of them with all its might.

As the single horn that divides the water gathers a vast amount of water-based magical energy, powerful whirlpools gradually appear beneath the deep river.

Amplified by the vortex, the fourth-tier water magic Torrent Impact was compressed and unleashed with full force towards Qin Lan.

The high-pressure water gun has an extremely high attack limit. Legend has it that the water cannon spewed by the Elder Dragon Storm Dragon is a terrifying move that can be called the Great Storm God Strike.

Its power was enough to easily cleave mountains and annihilate the army of an entire kingdom. Of course, the Whirlpool Horned Serpent here was just an ordinary magical beast.

Qin Lan didn't even need to defend herself; she easily dodged the impact of the raging torrent by simply flapping her wings.

If this monster chooses to attack Zhuang Daihua first, perhaps because she is not very familiar with the Purple Dragon form, the surging impact might hit her.

If it had hit Zhuang Daihua, it might have been able to escape Qin Lan's pursuit. But now, the attack on the iron dragon had no effect whatsoever; instead, Zhuang Daihua was rapidly closing in, wielding the energy blades on her claws.

With a single slash, the Whirlpool Horned Python had half its body severed. The severed tail stained the river with blood, and Qin Lan clung to the python's gaping jaws in pain.

The young Iron Dragon in front of him was ruthless in dealing with his prey; the horned python's lower jaw was torn off, and the magic core in its head was also removed.

Even after being killed, the horned python continued to convulse instinctively. Just as its thick body was about to coil around Qin Lan, it was stopped by its suddenly unfolding wing bones.

"I want to eat this snake, you can take the rest."

They peeled off the still-intact snakeskin and threw it ashore, and also gave the magic core to Zhuang Daihua.

Immediately, Qin Lan unfolded the sharp edges of the Iron Dragon Wing Bone and sliced ​​open the python's flesh. Her sharp claws then tore the skinned vortex horned python into pieces with lightning speed.

The horned python was completely unable to fight back. Powerful dragon species such as gold, red, purple, iron, and silver become virtually invincible after spending their juvenile period in the wild.

Even a Crimson Fire Dragon or a powerful monster stronger than a Fire Dragon would find it difficult to suppress the dragon.

Qin Lan quickly roasted the snake meat on the shore with her breath, then enjoyed her prey without a care in the world.

There's no need to worry about predators appearing around, because none of the magical beasts or monsters around here have the strength to threaten the young Iron Dragon.

……

In the jungle, a four-person adventurer team is hacking through the thorns, trying to clear a path.

"Are you telling the truth? Is there really... a young iron dragon here?"

An ordinary-looking, short-haired ranger complained to the captain who had led them here.

They searched the area thoroughly, but couldn't find even a trace of a dragon's footprints.

The squad leader, a freckled human mage, held up a piece of metallic iron scale and said:

"You idiot! See these scales? These are the young scales shed by a juvenile iron dragon. Seriously! I've seen more scenes than you've eaten meals."

Holding up the lustrous iron dragon scale from Qinlan, the human mage loudly rebuked her teammate.

"I calculated the little dragon's age based on the pattern of its scales and the timing of their shedding. She's almost sixteen, which is the age for a young dragon. I haven't been scouting this jungle for nothing these past few days!"

"To transform into adolescence, one needs to go through a period of deep sleep. She must have found a secluded cave to spend her slumber."

Upon seeing this, the other adventurers nodded with expressions of sudden realization.

The mage who had designs on the young Iron Dragon would never have imagined that her target had already been obtained in the labyrinth as a direct pass across age ranges.

Having passed through its dormant period, Qin Lan has grown into a ten-meter-long young dragon, not someone that adventurers can easily pick up.

"Can you really find a baby dragon so easily during its most vulnerable dormant period? Do you think dragons are like potatoes growing in the ground, that you can just wander around the jungle and run into them...?"

At the end of the trees, a bonfire burned high beside a river. A young dragon with metallic scales was beside the fire, savoring the golden-brown roasted python meat.

Not only that, but there was also a beautiful young girl holding a legendary staff beside it!

"Iron iron iron iron iron... Iron Dragon!"

Fortunately, Zhuang Daihua deactivated her Purple Dragon form; otherwise, the adventurer team would have been even more surprised.

Qin Lan's premature transformation, breaking through to a younger age, surprised the four-person team.

"Didn't you say that the iron dragon was in a dormant state? Then what is this... You're not going to tell us that this is the iron dragon's sister, are you?"

The short priest in the group frowned; now it was their turn to question the mage.

All four were adventurers of average skill, their strength barely reaching the peak of the second tier. They could put up a fight against young dragons below the second tier, but a teenage dragon... that was at least a third tier!

Not to mention, their original plan was to come and snag a young, dormant iron dragon, transport it to the city, and sell it to a "buyer" for a high price.

Even fighting the young dragons was a last resort, an emergency measure. Asking them to fight a young dragon whose strength had increased several times over... would be a certain death.

"No... that's impossible! Iron Dragons would never build their nests in a place like this."

Iron dragon mothers will diligently raise their offspring, even if they do not gather into tribes. The young will also be accompanied and protected by their mothers.

If there's more than one juvenile Iron Dragon here, its mother should be nearby. But an adult Iron Dragon... that's at least a terrifying seventh or eighth rank.

Why were these iron dragons not observed by the garrison and the "buyers" when they appeared near the city?

"Impossible... This is a wild dragon, don't worry! It has no mother to protect it. It's very likely the one we're looking for."

There were no traces of adult iron dragons nearby, so this juvenile iron dragon is likely the owner of the scales.

"Then, let's run! Let's find stronger adventurers to solve this problem..."

The last member of the four-person squad—a female warrior wearing a rugged horned helmet—had already given up, and the other members had also lost their will to fight.

"Don't rush! Do you see that lady? She's sitting next to Iron Dragon, and she has a very precious staff in her hand..."

No matter how lawful and neutral the Iron Dragon may be, it is still a greedy dragon. Seeing such a precious legendary staff before her, there was no way she could remain unmoved.

But the dragon and the girl were at peace! This situation shows that the stunningly beautiful purple-haired girl was capable of protecting the staff in her hand.